Ronaldo went on a ridiculous goal-scoring run through the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Reuters: Carl Recine

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or award as football's best player of the year for a record-equalling fifth time, moving him level with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo won the trophy awarded by France Football magazine at a ceremony held at the Eiffel Tower. He finished ahead of contenders Messi and Neymar, who left Barcelona in the offseason to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world record transfer fee of $US262 million.

Ronaldo was shown on television receiving the award while making the sign of five with his left hand as he held the trophy in his right. Messi was runner-up behind him and Neymar was third.

Since then, he has managed only a meagre two in 10 games and Madrid is fourth — already eight points behind leader Barcelona after 14 matches.

Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was fourth on France Football's list. The 39-year-old Italian helped Juventus reach the Champions League final and win the Italian title for the sixth straight season.

Teenage star Kylian Mbappe finished seventh after helping Monaco win the French title and reach the Champions League semi-finals. He joined Neymar at PSG this season in a deal worth $US216 million — the second-most expensive ever.